Virgin Australia has recently expanded its inflight WiFi service to cover the majority of its Boeing 737 domestic and international flights, with more being added in the near future. Unlike its main rival Qantas, Virgin Australia’s WiFi service is not free for all passengers. Instead, it is complimentary only for business class passengers, Velocity Platinum frequent flyers, and members of the invite-only Beyond program.
For other passengers, Virgin Australia offers two high-speed WiFi packages. The 30 Minute Pass costs approximately $10 and provides access for 30 minutes. The Flight Pass, priced around $20, offers continuous connectivity for the duration of the flight. The WiFi service accepts Visa, Mastercard, and JCB credit and debit cards, as well as American Express. Cash, EFTPOS, Maestro, or pre-paid travel cards are not accepted.
Connecting to Virgin Australia’s WiFi is straightforward, similar to connecting to any cafe or airport lounge network. You can connect from any laptop, smartphone, or tablet by visiting wifi.virginaustralia.com. As a Platinum, business class, or Beyond passenger, you simply need to enter your surname and seat number to enjoy free WiFi.
During a recent test, the download speed was recorded at just under 5Mbps, although the speed test was unable to measure the upload rate. The connection was stable, if relatively slow compared to Qantas’ WiFi, but sufficient for emails, general Web browsing, and social media. It’s worth noting that only one device can be connected at a time.
At the time of writing, Virgin Australia is in the process of equipping its Boeing 737-800/MAX fleet with WiFi using Intelsat’s 2Ku technology. The airline plans to make WiFi available on its new MAX aircraft as they are delivered. However, the rollout does not include Fokker 100, Airbus A320, or Boeing 737-700 aircraft.
